Man charged in April incident where student fired gun inside New London middle school

NEW LONDON — A 39-year-old man is facing charges after an April incident in which a student fired a gun inside a local middle school.

Police said Richard Velazquez, of Connecticut Avenue in New London, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with risk of injury to a minor and criminal possession of a firearm after police determined he was responsible for the gun before it came into the possession of the student.

An 11-year-old male student at Bennie Dover Middle School discharged a handgun inside the school in April, according to police.

Police did not specify how the student came into possession of the gun, or the relationship between him and Velazquez.

The student, who has not been identified due to his age, also was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment.